Amol N. Bankar (edited by Wisdom Quarterly)
In Buddhist literature
Sri (
Siri) or
Lakshmi (
Lakkhi, possibly related to "lucky") is the goddess of fortune and beauty. "The Questions of King
Milinda" (
Milindapanha), a later Theravada Buddhist work, mentions her cult and and her followers.
In the Dhammapada Commentary (Atthakatha) she is simply the goddess that gives luck to the kingdom (raja siridayika devata). In the Siri Jataka ("Rebirth Story"), Siri is the personification of Luck.
The rebirth story is told in reference to a
brahmin who tried to steal
Anathapindika's good fortune (his
siri).
Lakkhi -- the
Pali equivalent of Lakshmi, the goddess of beauty and fortune -- is a name found usually only in later works. The word
Lacchi, however, is probably equivalent to
Lakkhi.
In the
Sirikalakanni Jataka,
Siri -- also known as
Siri Mata (Mother
Siri) -- was the daughter of
Dhatarattha, King (or regent) of the Eastern Quarter, one of the Four Great Sky Kings (
Catummaharajika). He is chief of the lowly celestial musicians (
gandhabbas).
She is identified with
Uppalavanna, an extremely beautiful Buddhist nun who was one of the Buddha's two chief female disciples. She is connected with the east, in association with Asa in the South,
Saddha in the West, and
Hiri in the North.
In the
Sarabhanga Jataka Sakka's four daughters are mentioned.
Sakka is almost always described as
Sakka Devanam Indo,
Sakka King (chief) of the Gods (
devas)
. He reigns in the Celestial World of the Thirty-three (
Tavatimsa) as well as ruling the Four Great Kings in a subordinate celestial world. His daughters are named Asa,
Saddha,
Hiri, and
Siri.
The Sudhabhojana Jataka recounts a rebirth story when the four daughters went to Anotatta to play in the water. There they saw Narada under a paricchattaka-flower, which he was using as a sunshade. Each asked him for that flower. Narada said he would give it to the best of them then referred them to Sakka. Sakka sent a cup of ambrosia (sudhabhojana) to Kosiya.
He proclaimed that the daughter who succeeded in persuading Kosiya to share his special drink with her would be judged best. After listening to all of their claims, he decided in favor of Hiri.
When
Kosiya died and was reborn in
Tavatimsa (the second celestial world where
Sakka reigns as lord among the
devas there).
Sakka gave him
Hiri to be his wife and also a share of the kingdom.
In
Maitribala Jataka we find her association with the lotus. In past lives she was frequently performing meritorious deeds with various
buddhas involving blue lotuses, which led to remarkable anomalies related to flowers as her good karma came to fruition in later lives.
Buddhist nun Uppalavanna as Sri Lakshmi on the coins of the Licchavis in NepalSirikalakanni Rebirth Story
The story related in the Sirikalakanni Jataka is that the Bodhisattva (the buddha-to-be) was once a merchant of Benares named Suciparivara ("pure household"). He kept an unused couch and bed for anyone who might come to his house whom he deemed purer than himself.
One day Kalakanni, the daughter of King Virupakka, and Siri, the daughter of King Dhatarattha, went to bathe in Anotatta. A quarrel arose about who should bathe first. As neither any of the Four Great Kings nor Sakka were willing to decide the matter, they referred the two goddesses to Suciparivara.
Lakshmi emerges from a water lotus like the Indian version of the "Birth of Venus."
Kalakanni first appeared before
Suciparivara in blue garments and jewels. Being asked to state her qualities, she told him and was then dismissed. Next came
Siri, diffusing a yellow radiance. The Bodhisattva, discerning her identity and virtues, welcomed her and offered her his unused couch. Thus, the dispute was settled. The bed used by
Siri came to be known as the
Sirisaya [possibly referring to a
vimana, a platform,
palanquin, or spacecraft used by
devas, a "UFO" in modern terms], hence the origin of
Sirisayana ("royal bed" or "state couch").
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